Motion picture camera



May 7, 1935. H. R SCHENCK, JR

IIOTION PICTURE CAMERA 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1932 BY ATTORNEY.

May'7, l935. H. R. SCHEN CK. JR 2,000,895

IOTION PICTURE CAMERA I Filed Aug. 26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17! -Fr/g.3

' HI 70a Fig- ' mmvron BY M Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOF FlCE This invention relates to cameras, and is particularly directed to a camera for taking moving pictures, and the like article.

An object of this invention is to provide in a 6 camera of the character described wherein film is fed intermittently across a shutter, highly improved means for retaining the film stationary, while the shutter is open, during the photographing operation. v

A further object of this invention is to provide in a camera of the character described, an improved lens holder adapted to permit a quick change of the lens used for the photographing operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in a camera of the character described, improved film holders or reels so constructed as to be readily mountable on or demountable from the camera, and which furthermore, may be used as either the film feeding reel or the rewind reel.

Another object of this invention is to provide highly/improved means for actuating the film for taking moving pictures, for example, of the character described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 623,341, filed July 19th, 1932.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a camera of the character described which is so constructed that it may be actuated either by an electric motor or manually, and which is further provided with means for taking only a single picture at a time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a, compact and rugged camera of the character described which shall be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, comprise few and simple parts, which shall be easy to assemble, smooth in operation, and practical and et'flcient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of acamera embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the camera shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial, side elevational view of the camera shown in Fig.1 with parts broken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional 5-5 of Fig. 3; I

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line view taken on line 66 of Fig. l; and

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line |-I of Fig. 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in designates a motion picture camera embodying the invention, here shown as comprising a box or casing II on which is mounted a reel I2 from which film is unwound, and a reel II for rewinding as at 20a for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

The chamber 23, however, is divided by a vertical wall 26 contacting the partition 20 and the side wall 19 and disposed parallel to the front wall It and adjacent thereto, and forming a chamber 21 adjacent said front wall.

The bottom wall It is provided with a boss or thickened portion 28 adapted to receive the tripod or other support for the camera. The

front wall I6 is provided with a horizontal, rearwardly depressed wall portion 30 forming a horizontal groove 3|, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Said front wall it is furthermore provided with a circular opening 32 formed in said recessed wall 38, and communicating with the chamber 21 adjacent the upper end thereof.

Mounted within said groove 3| is a plate 34 having a groove 35 of dove-tailed, vertical crosssection, said plate 34 being fixed to the recessed wall 30 by means of screws (not shown) or in any other suitable manner. Slidably mounted within said dove-tailed groove 35 is a horizontal lens holder 36 carrying a plurality of spaced lenses 31. It will now be readily seen that any one of the lenses 31 may be moved to superimposing position with respect to the opening 32. In this manner, the lenses may be changed quickly and readily by merely causing sliding movement of the plate 34. v

The vertical wall 26 is provided with a shutter opening 40 adjacent the top end thereof aligned with the opening 32 in the front wall I8. Said vertical wall 26 is further provided with a small opening 4| beneath said opening 40 for the purpose hereinafter stated, and with a slot 42 below said opening 40. The partition wall 20 is provided with a slightly curved slot 43 adjacent the wall 26 and disposed close to and extending somewhat above the shutter opening 40,, the purpose of said slot being hereinafter explained. Fixed to the wall 20 and extending within the chamber 21 is a. cylindrical member 45 surrounding the shutter opening 40 and having an outwardly flaring end portion 46. Received within the opening 32 in the recessed wall and likewise extending into said chamber 21 is a cylindrical member 41 having an inwardly flaring end portion 48 extending within said outwardly flaring portion 46 of the member. Thus, light may pass through the lens opening 32, through the members 45 and 41 to the shutter opening 40.

As will be explained hereinafter in greater detail, a strip of film 50 is caused to be intermittently fed'behind the wall 26 so that each time the film is held stationary, an exposure may be made. For covering the shutter opening each time the film is being moved, there is provided an elongated shutter member 5| pivoted to the wall 20 as at 52 and extending parallel to said wall 20. The member 5! further is provided with a portion 53 bent substantially at right angles to said wall 20 and extending through the curved pening 43. The portion 53 is adapted in the lower position of the shutter member 5I to cover the shutter opening 40 and to uncover said opening when moved upwardly, to expose the film. The cylindrical member as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, is provided with a suitable slot 54 for receiving the portion 53 of the shutter.

The film may be of any suitable construction, for example, such as shown in my copending application aforementionedyand provided with a row of substantially square spaced sprocket openings 56 adjacent one edge thereof. For pressing the film against the wall 26, there is provided a gate 58 comprising a plate member 59 hinged adjacent one edge thereof, as at 60 to the wall 20. Said plate 59 is provided with an opening 62 aligned with the shutter opening 40 so as to permit light to pass through the film when the shutter 53 uncovers said shutter opening 40. Attached to substantially the mid-portion of said plate by means of a screw 64 is a substantially H-shaped spring 65 having two-pairs of oppositely extending spaced arms, the ends of which are bent away from the plate 59. Attached to said ends is a plate 61 curved at the upper and lower ends thereof and resiliently pressed by said spring arms against the film which passes between said plat and the wall 26, the film being thus pressed by said plate against said wall. The gate 58 may be swung away from the wall 26 to permit the film to be inserted in position or removed therefrom.

Means is provided for holding the gate in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 for pressing the film against the wall 26. To this end, there is fixed to said wall 26, a block I0 adapted to be contacted by an extension or finger II projecting from the edge of the plate 59. Fixed to said wall 26 and disposed above said plate I0 is a small casing I4 housing a slidably mounted spring pressed latch bolt I5 adapted to engage the finger II for pressing the same against the block I0. The gate may be released by pulling upwardly on the handle 16 at the upper end of the latch bolt as is clearly indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

For retaining the film in proper position with respect to the shutter opening 40, there is attached to said block I0 a looped spring I3 having a vertical portion 19 adapted to contact one edge 60 of said film. A vertical strip 63 may be fixed to the wall 26 adjacent the partition 20 for contacting the opposite edge 84 of said film. The film is thus properly aligned so that the pictures photographed thereon may be accurately framed.

The plate 61 is provided with a suitable opening aligned with the shutter opening 40 and opening, 62 in the plate 63 to permit light to pass through the lens and through the shutter opening and film.

Means is provided for viewing the film from the side of the camera. To this end the side wall I9 of the camera is provided with a window opening 86 on which may be mounted a viewing lens 81. Mounted on the wall 20 and disposed within the chamber 24 is a prismatic member having an inclined mirrored surface 89 set at 45 to the axis of the opening 86 and also at 45 to the axis of the opening 32. Thus, by looking through the viewing lens 81, the object to be photographed may be readily seen in the reflecting surface 89.

For supporting the reels I2 and I3, the topwall I5a of the casing is provided with a pair of arcuate symmetrically disposed recessed wall portions 9] adjacent the side wall I9 of said casing. Each of said arcuate walls is provided with a curved slot or groove 92 of dove-tail transverse cross-section, terminating as at 93 short of the front and rear walls I6 and ll of the casing. The extent of the arcuate grooves is preferably less than 60, for the purpose hereinafter stated. The top wall portion 95 of the casing which extends between the curved portions 9| is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed parallel slots 96 and 91 parallel to the front and rear walls of the casing and adapted to receive the strip of film 50 therethrough.

The reels I2 and I3 may be substantially similar in construction and are interchangeable so that each reel may be mounted on each of the arcuate walls SI. The reel I2 comprises a cylindrical casing I00 having a cylindrical wall I0l and a circular end wall I02; and screwed to said cylindrical wall is a cover I03. Rotatably mounted on and between the walls I02 and I03 on said housing I00, is a transverse axial shaft I05 to which there is fixed a spindle or roller I01 provided with any suitable means for engaging the inner end of the roll of film I08. Attached to diametrically opposite points on the outer surface of the cylindrical wall IOI, but extending in the same direction with respect to the diameter through the points of attachment, are a pair of similar members IIO. Each member H0 is provided with an ear III receiving the screw II2 which attaches said member to the cylindrical wall 'IOI. Each member H0 furthermore comprises a portion II3 having an end surface II adapted to contact the wall portion 95.

Of course, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the member IIO on the right of the reel I2 contacts the top wall portion 95 of the casing. However, should said reel'I2 be interchanged with the reel I3 in the manner explained hereinafter, the member I I0 at the left of said reel I2 would contact said wall portion 95 of said casing. Each member I I0 as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is hollow and is provided with an inner open side II6, the cylindrical wall IOI being provided with slots or openings I I1 aligned with the open sides wise.

For mounting the reel I2 on the arcuate wall 0 I. the cylindricalwall IOI thereof is formed with a pair of spaced arcuate flanges I22 of dove-tailed cross-section, each adapted to be slidably received within the groove 02. Each flange I22 may be substantially of the same angle as the groove 02, Le. less than 60. Thus, looking at Fig. 1 of the drawings, the reel I2 may be demounted by rotating the same in a counterclockwise direction until the flange I22 is entirely removed from the groove 02. The reel may then be removed side'- It will be noted that the arcuate angle of the groove 02 must be smaller than the angle between the adjacent ends of the flanges I22 to permit the reel to'be moved sidewise for mounting the reel on or demounting the same from the casing and interchanged, since each reel is providedwith' a mounting structure on the right and left side thereof. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the film 00 passes through the opening 00 into the casing and then passes through the opening to the member IIO attached to the reel I2 and then onto the roller or spindle I01 disposed within said reel.

For unwinding the film 00 from the reel I2 and again winding it onto the reel -I2 as the film is photographed, there is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the front and rear walls I0 and I1 of the casing II, a horizontal shaft I20, preferably extending beyond the rear wall I1 and being operable by any suitable electric motor I2I preferably demountably attached to'said casing. Mounted on said shaft I20 and disposed adjacent the front wall I0 of the casing is a worm I22 fixed tosaid shaft and rotatable therewith. Mounted in suitable bearings in the side wall I0 and in the partition 20 is a horizontal shaft I23 having fixedly mounted thereon a worm wheel I24 meshing with said worm I22 whereby said shaft I32 may be rotated by the motor I2 I. Said shaft I22 preferably projects through and beyond said wall I0 as at I20 for removably receiving a hand crank I21 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, whereby said shaft'may be rotated by means of said hand crank instead of by the motor I2l. As described hereinafter, one turn of crank I21 will cause a single picture to be taken on the film 00. Obviously, said shaft I20 is preferably movably mounted in the casing to permit the worm I22 to be readily unmeshed from the worm wheel I24, should it be'desired to turn the shaft I22 by the hand crank. Fixed to said shaft I22 is a gear I22. A second shaft I40 parallel to said shaft I22.

is likewise journaled in suitable bearings in the side walls I0 and in the partition wall 20 and mounted on said shaft is a gear I4I meshing with said gear I20.

Fixed to said shaft. I40 for rotation therewith are a pair of spaced gears I42 and I42. The gear I 42 is preferably disposed closer to the wall I 8 and meshing therewith is a gear I44 mounted on a shaft I40 joumaled in a suitable bearing opening in said wall II. A small shaft I40 likewise journaled in a suitable bearing opening in wall I0 and disposed parallel to said shafts I40 and I40 is provided with a gear I41 fixed thereto and meshing with saidgear I44. The shaft I40 preferably projects through said side wall I2 as at I40, said projecting portion of said shaft being adapted to removably receive a hand crank I00. It will thus be clear that the shafts I22 and I40 may be rotated either through the motor I2 I, or by means of hand cranks I21 or I00. The hand crank I00 is for continuously operating the camera.

Rotatably mounted on said wall I 2 of the easing is a shaft I02 on which there is mounted a gear I04 meshing with the gear I42.- There is I00. Removably mounted on the shaft I00 of the reel I2 in any suitable manner, is a grooved pulley I02 similar'to and aligned with the pulley I00. A belt I00 is received over said pulleys whereby rotation of either the motor or the hand cranks will cause the pulleys to rotate for rotating the roller I01 of'the rewind reel I2. It will thus be clear that during operation of the machine. the film will be rewound on the reel I2.

For unwinding the'fllm from the reel I 2, the shaft I40 projects through the wall 20, and mounted on the projecting portion of said shaft is a sprocket wheel I00. Said sprocket wheel is disposed in the chamber 24 and is formed adjacent one side thereof with an annular rim I00 adapted to. receive one edge portion I04 of the film. Said rim flange I00 is provided with a pinrality of spaced radially extending sprocket pins.

I10 preferably of substantially square cross-sectional shape received within the square sprocket openings 00 of the film 00. Adjacent the opposite side thereof said wheel I00 is provided with an annular flange or rim- I1I contacting said fllm 00 adjacent the opposite edge 00 thereof. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the film 00 passes downwardly into the casing through the opening 00 into engagement with the sprocket wheel I00. For retaining the film in contact with said sprocket wheel, there is provided a frame member I12 on which there is mounted a pair of parallel rollers I12 and I14. The frame I12 is pivoted to the wall 20 by means of'a shaft I10 on which the roller I12 is mounted. The film 00 passes around said rollers I12 and I14. The frame further is pressed by means of a spring I10 suitably atached to the wall 20 as at I11 or in any other suitable manner and having an outer free end portion I10 contacting the frame. The frame is thus pivotally moved about -the shaft portion I10 thereof for causing the roller I14 to press the film against the sprocket wheel I00. The roller I12 is provided with flanges I20 and I2I contacting the film adjacent the end edges thereof. The

further fixed to said shaft I02 a pulley or wheel roller I14 is likewise provided with flanges I00 and I8I. for the same purpose. However, the flange I00 of said roller I14 is formed with a groove I02 for receiving the sprocket pins I10 as the film is being unwound from the reel I2 and fed to the shutter mechanism.

As shown in the drawings, the film passes from the sprocket wheel to the upper end of the gate 00 and between said gate and the wall 20. The film then passes to the underside of the sprocket wheel and is retained in contact therewith by a second frame I12 and its rollers I12 and I14 similar to the upper frame I12.

The lower member I12 is likewise pressed by means of another spring I10 for causing the film to retain engagement with the sprocket wheel. The film I00 passes from the lower side of the sprocket wheel around an idler I20 likewise mounted on the wall 20 and similar in construction to the roller I12.

Means is provided for alternately holding the film stationary while the shutter" is in lifted position and said film is exposed, and then moving the shutter down to close the shutter opening and simultaneously advancing the film to present another frame for a photographing operation. To this end, there is journaled in suitable bearing openings in the wall I8 and partition 20, a horizontal shaft I carrying a gear I9I meshing with the gear I4I whereby said shaft I90 my be rotated by either the motor IOI or the hand cranks I31 or I50. Mounted on said shaft I90 are also a fly wheel I92 for maintaining the said shaft I90 at a substantially uniform rate of rotation, and a harmonic cam I93 adjacent the recessed portion 20a of the partition 20. Receiving said cam is a yoke I94 having an upstanding arm I95 pivoted at the upper end thereof as at I90 to the shutter member 5|. Thus as the shaft I90 is rotated, the yoke member I94 will be moved up and then down and will be maintained periodically in its upper and lower positions for predetermined intervals for retaining the shutter portion 53 in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings covering the shutter opening 40 and in uncovered position, respectively.

Means is provided for advancing the film or pulling the film downwardly each time the shut-,

ter is in the covering position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. For this purpose, the shaft I90 projects through the partition portion 20a and mounted on the extending portion of said shaft is an eccentric disc 200 disposed closely adjacent the said partition portion.

Fixed to said partition or wall 20 and projecting into the chamber 21 is a horizontal pin 20L Disposed within said chamber 27 is a member 202 provided with a substantially vertical slot 203 slidably receiving said pin 20I therethrough. Saidrnember 202 is formed furthermore with a pair of parallel arms 204 receiving therebetween the eccentric disc :00 and contacting the edge of said disc at diametrically opposed points. Thus, as the shaft I90 rotates, the disc 200 will cause the member 202 to be moved up and down. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the cam I93 is so positioned with respect to the disc 200 that the shutter will be maintained in its downmost position while the member 202 is moved from its uppermost position to its lowermost position, and will be maintained in lifted position while the member 200 is moved from its lowermost position to its uppermost position.

For the purpose hereinafter appearing, the shaft I33 projects through the wall 20 into the chamber 2'! and mounted on the projecting portion of said shaft is a cam 20B likewise having a harmonic curve and extending through a substantially oblong opening 20'! in the member 202, said opening forming a pair of parallel, substantially vertical edges contacting the cammed surface of the cam as the latter is rotated. Thus, as the shafts I33 and I90 are rotated simultaneously, the member 202 will move up and down due to the action of 'the eccentric disc 200 and will also be pivoted about the pin 20I by action of the cam 206. The cam 206 will maintain the member 202 pivoted to the right as said member is moved downwardly, and pivoted to the left as it is moved upwardly. Extending from the upper end of said member 202 is a pin 209 adapted to extend into the slot 42 of the wall 26. Thus, as the shafts I33 and I90 rotate, the pin 209 will move into the slot 42 adjacent the upper end of the latter and engage one of the sprocket openings in the/film 50. Further rotation will cause the member 202 tomove downwardly for advancing the film; During this operation, theshutter member II, 52 will be maintained in its lowermost position to cover the" shutter opening 40. However, rotation 'of' the shafts I90 and 132 will cause the member 202 to be pivoted to the left or in a counterclockwise direction for disengaging the fllm and then'jlifted while the shut ter member is moved upwardly for exposing the film, and maintained in its upper position.

Means is further provided for maintaining the film stationary each time the same is exposed. To this end there is attached to the wall 26 and adjacent the wall 20 and within the chamber 21, a block 2I0 provided with a vertical wall portion 2H and a horizontal wall portion 2I2 extending to one side from the upper end of said vertical wall portion. The horizontal wall portion 2I2 is formed with a vertical slot 2 I4 parallel to the wall 20. Said horizontal wall portion 2I2 is further provided with a horizontal cylindrical through opening 2I'I perpendicular to the wall 26; and slidably received within said opening is a cylindrical pin 2 I 8. The block 2!!! is provided on both sides of the vertical slot 2 I4 with a pair of aligned horizontal slots 220 receiving therethrough a pin 22I disposed perpendicularly to the wall 20 and fixed to the pin 2 I8. Thus, reciprocation of the pin 22I to the left and right looking at Fig. 3 of the drawings, will cause the cylindrical pin 2 I0 to be reciprocated within the opening 2II. The vertical portion 2II of the block 2I0 is further provided with a horizontal pin 222 projecting to one side thereof; and piv otally mounted on said pin is a lever 223 having a yoke portion 224 receiving the cam 206 therethrough. Thus, the cam 206 is of sufllcient width to engage both within the yoke 224 in the opening 201 of the member 222. The lever 223 is provided with an upstanding arm 225 projecting within the slot 2 and having a notched end portion receiving the pin 22 I. Thus, as the cam 206 rotates, the lever 223 will pivot about the pin 222 for reciprocating the transverse pin HI and consequently the cylindrical pin 2| 8. It will be seen that when the member 202 pivots about the pin 20I in a clockwise direction, the lever 223 will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction. Extending from the pin 2I8 is a lug or projection 230, preferably of square cross-section adapted to project through the opening H in the wall 26 and engaged within one of the square shaped sprocket openings in the film. The cam 206 is so arranged that when the shutter 53 is in its upper position and the film is being exposed, the projection 230 will be in engagement with a sprocket opening in the film. While the projection 230 is in engagement with the film, the projection or pin 209 of the member 202 is out of engagement with the film and is being moved upwardly to its upper position. Thus, beginning with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, rotation of the shafts I90 and I33 will retain the shutter 53 in covering position. The pin 209 will engage the film and pull the same downwardly and the member 223 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction for disengaging the projection 230 from the film. After the film has beer. advanced, further rotation of the shafts I90 and I33 will cause the shutter member 53 to be moved upwardly for uncovering the shutter opening 40 and the proof film 50.

will move into engagement with the film for retaining the same positively against movement while the film is exposed.

The gear I38 is preferably of the same size as the gear |5l so that a single revolution of the 'shaft I33 will cause a single revolution of the shaft I90. It will now be understood that when the hand crank I3! is turned one revolution, both the shafts I33 and I will likewise be rotated one revolution for causing a single picture to be photographed on the film 50.

The casing I I may be provided with any suitable mechanism for recording sound eflects on the strip 7 In such case the strip will pass to the sound recording mechanism before passing to the openings! for rewinding on the reel l3.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment set. forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a motion picture camera, a casing, a wall mounted therein having a shutter opening, a pair of parallel shafts rotatably mounted within said casing, a member pivoted within said casing and having a portion movable into covering and uncovering position with respect to said opening, a cam mounted on one of said shafts, a yoke receiving said cam and having an arm pivotally connected to said pivoted member whereby upon rotation of said cam, said pivoted member will be moved into and out of said covering position, a pin fixed within said casing, a member having an elongated slot slidably receiving said pin' -and provided with a pair of parallel arms, an eccentric disc fixed to said first shaft and received between said parallel arms for reciprocating said member, a cam on said second shaft, said member being provided with an opening forming a pair of parallel edges, said last mentioned cam being received within said opening and contacting said edges, means for simultaneously rotating said shafts whereby said member may oscillate about said pin during the reciprocation thereof, and means on said member adapted to engage a strip of film for advancing the same across said shutter opening.

2. In a motion picture camera, a casing, a wall mounted therein having a shutter opening, a pair of parallel shafts rotatably mounted within said casing, a member pivoted within said casing and having a portion movable into covering and uncovering position with respect to said opening, a cam mounted on one of said shafts, a yokereceiving said cam and having an arm pivotally connected to said pivoted member whereby upon rotation of said cam, said pivoted member will be moved into and out of said covering position, a pin fixed within said casing, a member having an elongated slot slidably receiving said pin and provided with a pair of parallel arms, an eccentric disc fixed to said first shaft and received between said parallel arms for reciprocating said member, a cam on said second shaft, said member being provided with an opening forming a pair of parallel edges, said last mentioned cam being received within said opening and contacting said edges, means for simultaneously rotating said shafts whereby said member may oscillate about said pin during the reciprocation thereof, and means on said member adapted to engage a strip of film for advancing the same across said shutter opening, and a lever pivotally mounted within said casing provided with an opening forming parallel edges receiving said last mentioned camtherebetween and a pin on said lever adapted to engage said said shutter opening isuncovered,

I HARRY R, SCHENCK, J3. 

